diff --git a/.github/workflows/auto-response.yml b/.github/workflows/auto-response.yml
index 15e31000b24..c571cd1d1cf 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/auto-response.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/auto-response.yml
@@ -407,8 +407,12 @@ jobs:
               "Closing this PR because it looks dirty (too many unrelated or unexpected changes). This usually happens when a branch picks up unrelated commits or a merge went sideways. Please recreate the PR from a clean branch.";
 
             if (pullRequest) {
-              // `bad-barnacle` exempts PRs that Barnacle incorrectly marked dirty.
-              if (labelSet.has(dirtyLabel) && !labelSet.has(badBarnacleLabel)) {
+              if (labelSet.has(badBarnacleLabel)) {
+                core.info(`Skipping PR auto-response checks for #${pullRequest.number} because ${badBarnacleLabel} is present.`);
+                return;
+              }
+
+              if (labelSet.has(dirtyLabel)) {
                 await github.rest.issues.createComment({
                   owner: context.repo.owner,
                   repo: context.repo.repo,